Microsoft’s MOM Knows Best?

Microsoft is taking a piece from its percolating management software platform to its second beta test, priming Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2004 to nip network problems before they wreak havoc on computing systems.

Slated for release next summer, MOM 2004 provides event management, proactive monitoring and alerting, reporting and trend analysis of computer networks. Microsoft said on its Web site that the current iteration of MOM 2004 aims to help track and resolve problems more easily and includes an improved user interface operator console to increase operational efficiency for managing Windows environments.

In smaller environments in which agents have not been deployed to specific servers, various health checks can be run against a server from the MOM server itself. The overall status and availability of the server can then be displayed on the MOM console.

The Microsoft beta software is the continuation of a trend by providers such as IBM, HP, and Computer Associates to offer management software that actively seeks out glitches or issues before they cause downtime on networks.

The cornerstone of such strategies is automation, which, in addition to allowing computing resources to handle tasks on the fly, also saves businesses money because tech support personnel are freed up to complete other jobs. In effect, the management software minds the network and provides a strong base for utility or on-demand computing strategies.

Microsoft will later issue Web services management packs to pare support costs and increase service availability associated with running applications and services in a Windows-based environment.

The second beta of MOM 2004 follows the release of the Redmond, Wash. software company’s Systems Management Server 2003 (SMS 2003).

SMS 2003 supports a full management feature set, including software distribution, asset management and remote troubleshooting — without requiring a set of local servers or services.

Along with Windows Server 2003, SMS 2003 and MOM 2004 are deliverables for the company’s Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI) for enterprise management software.

DSI is a marked departure for the applications software giant, which is now seeking to carve out territory in an area where many others tread, the enterprise. Microsoft has already attracted strong interest in its endeavor, signing up to provide its management software for Dell servers and storage.

Customers can sign up for the beta testing program by going here.